Johnson votes yes, Thune no on stimulus bill

Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson voted for the legislation and Republican Sen. John Thune voted against it.

In a release, Thune called the bill a "business-as-usual Washington spending spree."

He said it represents the largest intergenerational transfer of debt in history and that Democratic leaders rejected Republicans' proposed changes.

Johnson said the legislation is not perfect but that no bill of its size can be. He said the goal was job creation, tax cuts for the middle class and infrastructure investment. Most of the 3.6 million people who have lost their jobs in the last year lost them in the last three months, Johnson said, adding that action is needed to get people back to work.

The vote sets up negotiations with the House, which passed a different version.